The Atlanta Dream are staying laser-focused on forcing a Game 7 in the WNBA Finals despite a scheduling controversy that moved Game 6 to a 12:30 p.m. ET tip-off on Thursday at the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena. The Dream trail the Golden State Valkyries 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, which is the first to use the format since the league switched from best-of-five in 2025.
The unusual start time resulted from a conflict with the Atlanta Hawks, who play at State Farm Arena — the Dream's usual playoff home — on Thursday night. The Dream had only reserved Gateway Center for the playoffs, and last-minute changes allowed Games 3 and 4 at State Farm but not Game 6. While Dream ownership publicly criticized WNBA leadership over the situation, head coach Karl Smesko said the players have barely discussed it. "I haven't really heard them mention much about it, so I think we're handling it great," Smesko said. "We're trying to focus on the basketball and let other people take care of that."
Forward Angel Reese, who was traded to the Dream from the Chicago Sky in the offseason and recently earned her first All-WNBA second-team selection, expressed gratitude for the sold-out crowd. "Funny thing about Atlanta, I knew they were going to show up and show out," Reese said. "It being sold out is not a surprise to me because I know how much they support us."
After winning Game 3 97-91 to take a 2-1 lead, the Dream have been stifled by the Valkyries' top-ranked defense, losing Game 4 67-62 in Atlanta and Game 5 64-55 in San Francisco. Reese was held to 15 points combined in the last two games. However, Reese said a Wednesday film session revealed correctable mistakes. "A lot of these things are just us, like missing shots or turning the ball over, or just not being on our defensive principles," she said. Rookie guard Isabele Borlase added that the session left her feeling "really, really good."
Veteran DeWanna Bonner dismissed the timing as irrelevant. "I don't think that they need any advice. It's just win or die," Bonner said. "No matter what the timing says, you can't even worry about that. We just need a court, ball, hoop." Bonner emphasized the team has not lost confidence despite offensive struggles. "We haven't lost confidence. That'd be crazy to lose confidence."
